Police Chief Contract Runs Through End of Year

At its September meeting, the East Whiteland Board of Supervisors voted to enter into a contract with the Westtown-East Goshen (WEGO) Regional Police Commission. The terms state that East Whiteland Police Chief Eugene Dooley will, on a part-time basis, lead the unsettled WEGO Police Department until the end of 2012.

"I suppose the contract could be renewed if they're still trying to work things out," board chairperson Virginia McMichael said at the Sept. 12 meeting.

Dooley has been working as interim chief in the WEGO department since Aug. 23, following the retirement of the chief there.

In addition to lacking a full-time chief, the regional department is in the middle of tumultuous contract negotiations. One of the three participating municipalities, Thornbury Township, is in talks to exit and contract services from West Chester Borough.

"[WEGO] needed someone at the helm, but because they didn't know the future of the department, they really didn't want to offer full-time employment to somebody if that job would change," township manager Terry Woodman said.

"Our experience is that the chief can wear a lot of hats," McMichael said. She underscored that the township will be compensated for Dooley's time.

Supervisor Bill Holmes said the contract was a tribute to the chief and would help build relationships with neighboring municipalities. The contract was a approved by a vote of 2-0, with supervisor John Mott absent.

This is the second time in 2012 that East Whiteland has contracted out police chief services to neighboring municipalities. In June, the township contracted one of its two police lieutenants, Mark Ercole, to serve as interim chief in Malvern Borough.

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See also:

Dooley Named Interim WEGO Police Chief

East Whiteland Lieutenant to Replace Malvern Police Chief